Metal-casting machine



April 2, 1929- G. E. EDMUNDS 1,707,603

METAL CASTING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1 25 2 ShQEtS-Sheet l gig..-

G .E .Z'dmunds April 1929. s. E. EDMuNbs 1,707,603

METAL CASTING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Zdmunds auozmq gwwmtoz Patented Apr- UNITED STATES GLENN E. EDMUNDS, or ooLUMBUs oHIo, ASSIGNOR Torin: BoiIimY-FLQYD co PATENT OFFICE}.

' -1ANY, or COLUMBUS, 01110, A conronnrron orv OHIO.

Application filed g 29,

This invention relates, to improvementsin metal casting machines of t-he type employed in connection with the casting especially of pig iron bars toringots, and is 'princi pall y 5 directed to that type of a casting machine which is formed to include transversely spaced longitudinally extending endless chains which, inturn, are united by a plu rality of longitudinally spaced transversely the past when one of the molds ofthe "ma- 1 chine becomes cracked or broken orif a similar injury should happen to 'oneof the mold supports used in connecting the endsofthe mold with the" adjoining chain, it has been, necessary to stop the operation of the ma-" chine andjtake the same'apart in order to remove and replace the broken or defective part. Itcis therefore an outstanding iobject of the present invention to providea novel and improved supporting fastening between the molds and theircarrying' chains whereby; I out oppi t and 'invery rapid time.

in the event of injury. to either the molds or .be quickly and readily replaced without'efl footing the'operative condition of'the car vying, chains. I I Another object of the invention resides inf constructing the links of the chain so'Ith at the latter will cooperate witli the mold sup port to the end of maintainingthe-chain links in their proper transversely spaced po-.

sitions and Whereinthere is butflittle loose play or relative'movementbetween the links imum and clogging metal deposit obviated. Another. object of the invention resldes in the provision of a conveyor formachlne s-of the mold supports, the; defective part can" and. the mold support, thus producing a structure wherein wear is reduced to a minj- I thelline 3+3iof Figure 2, I

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View the type specified wherein the conveyor is.-

'.'central longitudinal edge portions of the I i926. swarm. 125,704.

links. In connection with I this structure there isprovided a moldsupport arranged to extend transversely of the links and providedjwith openings for the reception of the lugs on the links,the support,in turn, 'be-, ing formed with integral ofisetlu-gs arranged to engage the opposite side of said links so as to maintain the transverse s'pacing thereofea removable locking pin being provlded and removably positioned Within transversely aligned openings provided in "the sides of theflinksfand the offset lugs of the mold support, the pin serving to remov- "ablyll'ock the mold support inconnection with the links withoutdisturbing the operating positions of saidli'nks when theinold supports are'fbeing applied or removed. This latter' feature is in distinct contrast with conveyors f'otprevious design, wherein whenfthefjoccasiorifhas arisen to remove or replace moldv'support it'has been neces sary to separate links comprising jt-he chainto effect the result. It has also beenproposed to form the mold support, inte with the links with the resultthat it a single portion of thesupport becomes I I f cr ac l ted or brokenit is necessary to discard the-entire structure. In the present inven tionfg'reat rigidity is secnred' in every -way comparable with that of'the' integral con struct on and, 1n addition, a very consider- :repair's'and replacements can be made withoperauon' of the ,rnachine I With these and other objects in View, as W111 appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features'of construction, combinationsof elements and arrangements o t'i'parts hereinafter to be fully de-1 andpointed out in the appended scribed claims. I

' In'the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is aplan View ofone of the'chain sections comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof,

able advantage is present in the factthat Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View on I ing the numeral 1 designates a conveyor chain formed in accordance with the present invention and especially adapted for use in connection with pig iron casting machines. The chain is formed to comprise a plurality of interchangeable or reversible link sections 2, which may be used on either side of the chain, there being no right or left sections required. By this means I am enabled to use a single pattern for the link sections on both sides of the Chain. The link sections have the ends thereof provided with openings for the reception of transversely extending conducting pins 3, by which the 'adjoiniiigends of the link sections are pivotally united together. Also, the link sections are provided with inwardly offset endsfi, permitting of convenience in the pivotal connection of adjoining link ends and at the same time producing a very substantial design. Between the inwardly offset ends 4: of the links are disposed wheels 5, which are adapted to rotate about the pins or axles o. The wheels 5 are suitably flanged, as is usual, for operation over the trackway 6 of the casting machine. By this construct-ion it will beseen. that the chain will be permitted to fleX and bend for passage around the drive and guide sprockets (notshowniof the machine, the flexing and bending taking place without difficulty and in agmanner common to chains of this type. It will be understood that in a pigcasting machine two of these chains are employed, the said chains being transversely spaced and arranged for operation in vertical planes. Between these chains there is arranged a plui'ality of transversely extending. longitudi nally' spaced metal receiving molds 7, which are attached to the chains 1 in a novel and convenient manner to be hereinafter described.

, in the event of injury to one of the lugs the link may be reversed in its operating position to present a reserve lug thus enabling the use of the link as a whole to be continued. Arranged to extend transversely across the link sections and positioned midway of the length of the links is a mold support 9. The said support comprises preferably a flat metallie plate provided at one endi'with an open ing 10 and at the opposite end thereof with a slot 11, which are adapted to receive the lugs 8 arising from the chain links. The walls ofthe openings lOand the slots 11 are formed to closely e ngage'the adjacent walls of the lugs 8 so as tn assist in rendering the construction exceptionallyrigid. In carrying this object out still further, the mold suppsa 9 is pretest with a pair of transversely ducedto a minimum. The walls of adjacent links, together with the lugs 12 are ap'ertured for the removable reception of a locking pin 14, which serves to retain the mold supports and associated molds in connection with the chains and prevents accidental removal or displacement thereof. 'The inner edges of themold support are formed with openings 15 for the reception of securing devices 16 i which serve to firmly connect the end of the molds 7 with the mold supports. Cotter pins 17 may be used for retaining the locking pins 14 in their applied positions.

In view of the foregoing itwill beseen that the present invent-ion provides a con- .veyor chain wherein the mold support-s may be removed from connection fwith the chain links without disturbing the operative position of the links injthe chain'as'sembly. l

This enables repairs andreplacementsto be made very quickly with but a slight loss in time. In fact, a defective mold can be replaced without stopping the operation of the machine. In previous constructions it has been customary to slot the links and form the mold supports with outwardly directed tonguesreceivable; within the slot. Thisconstruction, therefore, has necessitated the removal of individual linksfr'om the chain assembly to effect repairs, requiring the stopping of the machine andin addition considerable inanual'workin making the replace ment, In the present construction this is all obviated and a simple, 'rigid,,readily replaceable and economical arrangement provided. What is claimed is: I I 1. In a conveyor, a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced linkshaving the ends thereof formed for pivotal union with the corresponding end of similar adjoining links, said links being formed with integral laterally extending lugs on the central -longitudinaledge portions thereof, a trans- .versely extend ng mold support provided with openings for the reception of said lugs, sald supports being formedwlth integral olisetlugs arranged to engage-the opposite sides spacing thereof, a transversely disposed loekmg pin receivable within al gned openings provided in the lugs of said links and the of said linksto maintain the transversev extending, transversely spaced links, said links being provided Withintegral upstanding lugs along the central longitudinal edge 5 portions thereof, a transversely extending iold support bridging said links and having 2. In aconveyor, a pair of lon itudinally openings provided therein for the reception of said lugs, and a transversely disposed locking pin removably positioned Within aligned openings provided in the lugs of said 0 links and the lugs of said support.

7 In testimony whereof I a'fiix my signature.

' GLENN E; EDMUNDS. 

